Alan has been a CAMRA member since February 1976, joining at the branch's first meeting. He has been on the branch committee since the branch's first Annual General Meeting. A couple of years later, he took over as Branch Secretary. Shortly after that, Alan became Cumbria Area Organiser and West Pennines Regional Organiser: posts he held for five years. Alan has edited two editions of the Cumbria Real Ale Guide and worked at many Great British Beer Festivals; two (or was it three?) as a bar manager. He has been involved in organising all 24 CAMRA beer festivals held in Carlisle. Alan has written our newsletter, Ale Tales, since it was launched in 2002. Alan became Solway Branch Chairman in 1981 and is probably the longest serving chair in CAMRA!